Fluid-pressure regulator.



PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905.

LNQ. 806,470.

A. J. & N.'HODG E. FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. HODGE AND NATH NIEL HODGE, or PASADENA, CALI- A. FORNIA.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905,

Application filed May 9,1904. Serial No. 206.984.

To all whom it may concern.- Be it'known that we, ARTHUR J. HODGE and NATHA IEL HODGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Pasadena, 1n the county of sure-regulators wherein a diaphragm supported in a suitable chamber is exposed on one side to the pressure of the gas and on the other side to a pressure independent of the gaspressure, the movements of this diaphragm under fluctuation of the pressure of the gas serving .to operate thevalve controlling the supply of gas through the regulator to the service-pipes.

One object of this invention is to provide improved means for operation of the regulating-valve from the diaphragm and for adjusting such operation. Another object of the invention is to provide valve means for shutting off the supply of gas in case of an abnormalfall of pressure in the regulator due to a leak or to other causes.

v A further object of the invention is to effect this result by the use of the same controlling and operating mechanism that effects the regulation to maintain constant pressure.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims.

The accompanying drawing is a vertical sec= tion of a fluid-pressure regulator embodying our invention. I

1 designates the casing orbody of the regulator, and 2 the cover or closure-plate, removably secured thereto by screws 3. The

diaphragm 1 is clamped between the body 1 .;and the plate 2, dividing the space within the casing and closure-plate into two chambers 5 6.

7 designates the gas-supply or fluid-pressure-supply pipe or inlet, and 8 the servicepipe or outlet from the pressure regulator, both of these pipes communicating with the aforesaid chamber 5. An opening or passage 9 in the wall of said chamber 5, communicating with pipe 7, .is adapted to be closed by a valve 10 to control communication from the supply-pipe 7 to the chamber 5.

11 designates a seat for valve 10. Said valve is connected tosupportingand operating means I able support.

consisting of toggle links or members 12 13, which are pivoted together and to the diaphragm at 14, the outer end of one linkbeing pivoted to said valve at 15 and the outerend of the other link being pivoted at 16.to a suit The pivotal connection between the diaphragm and the toggle-links is such as not to interferewith the free longitudinal movement of said links. For this purpose a bracket 17, secured to the diaphragm and forked to embrace the toggle-links, is provided with a slot'or elongated seat l8on each side toreceive the knuckle-pivot 14 of the toggle-links.

1 l9 designates an adjustable support for one end of the toggle device, said support consisting of a screw working in a tapped hole in the side of the casing 1 opposite the gas-inlet and provided at its outer end with an operatinghead 20 and at its inner end with a swivel 21, to which the toggle-link 12 is pivotally connected. By operation of this screw or support the valve 10 may be adjusted relatively to its seat.

A spring 22 is provided" in the chamber 6 to bear against the diaphragm 4, and an adjusting-screw 23, working in the plate 2,

serves to control or regulate the pressure of j this spring against the diaphragm. The chamber6 communicates with the outer air through a small opening 24, permitting only gradual flow of air therethrough.

25 designates theusual trap-vent, formed nular ridge'adapted to bear against a packing ring or washer26 on valve 10.

Connected to the valve 10 by a stem 27 is an emergency-valve 28, held on said stem by anut 29. Said emergency-valve desirably has a rounded or convex seating-face 30,

adapted to cooperate with a valve-seat 31 at the outer end of the inlet-opening 9. When the device is in normal operation with .the valve 10 near its seat, as shown in full lines, the emergency-valve 28 is sufficiently re- .moved from its seat to enable free flow of gas past same, this flow being regulated by the valve 10.

The screw 19 is adjusted so that when the toggle-links are almost straightened out, as shown in dotted lines at 12 13, the valve 10 'as a U-tube, containing suitable liquid and will be closed against its seat, shutting off the gas-supply, and the screw 23 is so adjusted that the toggle Will assume this position when the pressure is at the desired maximum. hen the pressure falls below this maximum, the toggle-links will be moved laterally by the diaphragm, so as to shorten the toggle and open the valve 10 snfliciently to allow gas or fluid to pass through, and the amount of such opening will adjust itself antomatically to the requirements of the service-pipes by reason of the corresponding fall of pressure in the chamber 5. In case, however, of an abnormal fall of pressure, such as would be caused by a break in the servicepipes, the diaphragm will move the togglelinks to an extreme position 12" 13, so that the emergency-valve 28 will be pulled up against its seat, closing the gas-inlet and preventing further passage of gas or fluid.

The purpose of the opening 24 in the wall of the chamber 6 isto maintain atmospheric pressure in said chamber. Said opening, however, is so small as to restrict the passage of gas therethrough, so that in case there is a break or leak in the diaphragm 4 gas-pressure will gradually accumulate in said chamber 6 to such an extent as to substantially equalize the pressure on both sides of the diaphragm, whereupon the spring 22 moves the diaphragm and toggle-links over to position to close the emergency-valve.

While the apparatus above described is the preferred embodiment of our invention, it may be variously modified, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim is 1. Apressure-regulator comprising a chamber provided with gas inlet and outlet means, a diaphragm exposed to the pressure in said chamber, means for adjusting the pressure on said diaphragm, a valve controlling the gasinlet means, an operating connection between the diaphragm and the valve, and adjusting means connected to the operating connection to adjust the valve toward and from its seat.

2. Apressure-regulator comprisingachamber provided with gas inlet and outlet means, a diaphragm exposed to the pressure in said chamber, means for adjusting the pressure on said diaphragm, a valve controlling the gasinlet means, a support adjustable toward and from said valve, and a connecting means connected to said support, to the diaphragm and to the valve to operate the valve from the dia phragm and to adjust the valve from the movable support.

3. Apressure-regulator comprisingachamleer provided with gas inlet and outlet means, a diaphragm exposed to the pressure in said chamber, means for adjusting the pressure on said diaphragm, a valve-controlling the gasinlet means, a screw workjngin the wall of said chamber, and connecting means operatively connected to said screw and to the valve to adjust the valve by adjusting the said screw, and a connection between said operating connecting means and the diaphragm to operate the valve from the diaphragm, said connection comprising relatively sliding parts permitting adjustment of the valve by the screw while maintaining the operative connection from the diaphragm.

4. A pressure-regulator com prising a chamber provided with gas inlet and outlet means, a diaphragm exposed to the pressure in said chamber, means for adjusting the pressure on said diaphragm, a valve controlling the gasinlet means, an adjustable support and a toggle connected at its ends to the valve and to the adjustable support and connected at its joint to the diaphragm.

5. A pressureregulator comprising two chambers, and an interveningdiaphragm, one of said chambers being provided with gas, inlet and outlet means, means for adjusting the pressure on said diaphragm, a valve controlling the gas-inlet means, toggle-links pivotally connected to said diaphragm, one end of one toggle-link being connected to said valve,

and an adjustable support connected to the other toggle-link.

6. A pressure regulator comprising two chambers, and an intervening diaphragm, one of said chambers being provided with gas inlet and outlet means, means for adjusting the pressure on said diaphragm, a valve controlling the gas-inlet means, toggle-links pivotally connected to said diaphragm, one end of one toggle-link being connected to said valve, and an adjustable support connected to the other toggle-link, said adjustable support comprising a screw having a swivel connection with the toggle-links.

, 7 A pressure-regulator comprising two chambers, and an intervening diaphragm, one of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid, means for adjusting the pressure on said diaphragm, a regulating-valve controlling said inlet, toggle-links pivotally connected to said diaphragm, one end of one toggle-link being connected to said valve, an adjustable support connected to the other toggle-link, and an emergency-valve also controlling said inlet and connected to the regulatingvalve to be drawn against its seat by the move ment of the toggle-links in opening the regulating-valve to a considerable degree.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 2d day of May, 1904..

ARTHUR J. HODGE. NATHANIEL HODGE.

In presence of JOHN MCDONALD, P. J. CHRIST.

IIO 

